Benischek: Section 1 needs to take a look in the mirror

From our Poughkeepsie Journal colleague Mike Benischek comes his column on why so many schools are looking to leave Section 1. Since April, there have been talks about all 11 Rockland schools, and many Dutchess schools leaving for Section 9, so I’m sure many have wondered, why do they want to leave? Benischek, brother of Somers volleyball coach Sarah, tackles that question with the same response I’d give Taylor Swift: “It’s not them. It’s you.”

All of us have been in a bad relationship at one time or another.

All of us have been rejected. Some of us have even had to keep on seeing that person after the breakup.

But after you’re finished blaming the other person for everything that ever went wrong, there comes a point when you have to look at yourself in the mirror and ask the tough questions.

For Section 1, that time has to be now.

Why is it that so many schools want to get away from you?

If it were one school that was thinking about leaving you, it might be an isolated incident. If it were two schools, it might be an aberration. But in the last 12 months, at least 18 schools have admitted to considering giving you the ol’ “It’s not you, it’s me,” and some have even packed their bags and walked toward the door.

MIKE ZACCHIO has been with The Journal News and Lohud.com since August 2011 after freelancing exclusively for them since May 2010. Upon graduating from North Rockland HS in 2007, he earned his associate's degree in Communications/Media Arts from Rockland Community College in 2009. After RCC, he earned his bachelor's in Journalism from Purchase College in 2011. Motown music aficionado and future husband of Blake Lively.